Cosmetic container

ABSTRACT

The invention contemplates an improved refill cartridge and insert-sleeve construction for use in lipstick or the like containers having outer decorative casings, the sleeve being permanently assembled into the bore of the base part of the outer decorative casing. The particular feature of the invention resides in provision of such circumferential uniformity of the sleeve fit in the outer decorative casing that inherently weak plastic outer casings are smoothly cylindrically supported and permanently engaged, without imposing such circumferential stress as to rupture the casing. At the same time, improved detent and locking structure coacts between removably fitted parts of the cartridge and casing to assure smooth detent action without damage to keyed parts or surfaces.

Unite States Patent [72] Inventor Melvin Gould l'lamden, Conn. [21]Appl. No. 879.138 [22] Filed Nov. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971[73] Assignee Eyelet Specialty Company Wellington-d, Conn.

[54] COSMETIC CONTAINER 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

52 U.S.C1 .1 401/86 [51 Int. Cl A45d 40/06 [50] Field of Search 401/61.68v 78. 86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,323,641 6/1967 Landen401/86 3,335,854 8/1967 Landen 401/68 X Primary E.raminerLawrenceCharles Atwme vSandoe. Hopgood and Calimafde ABSTRACT: The inventioncontemplates an improved refill cartridge and insert-sleeve constructionfor use in lipstick or the like containers having outer decorativecasings, the sleeve being permanently assembled into the bore of thebase part of the outer decorative casing. The particular feature of theinvention resides in provision of such circumferential uniformity of thesleeve fit in the outer decorative casing that inherently weak plasticouter casings are smoothly cylindrically supported and permanentlyengaged. without imposing such circumferential stress as to rupture thecasing. At the same time. improved detent and locking structure coactsbetween removably fitted parts of the cartridge and casing to assuresmooth detent action without damage to keyed parts or surfaces.

Ill

COSMETIC CONTAINER This invention relates to an improved lipstick or thelike container construction of the removable-cartridge type wherein thecartridge assembly is removably received in an outer decorative casing,and in particular when the outer decorative casing is of molded plastic.

In catering to todays market for lipstick containers of the characterindicated, it is important that the manufacturer shall be able to offergreat variety in the design of outer decorative casings which utilizethe same basic internal mechanism. This is ordinarily achieved byproviding a standard cartridge and by providing a custom-designed outercasing to receive the cartridge. Competition forces further economiesthrough standardizing of an insert for the base-receiving part of theouter casing, the insert being specially formed for reception of aninserted standard cartridge; Landen U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,641 isillustrative of such an insert. But the said Landen construction hasbeen found to present intolerable difficulties when the outer decorativecasing is of molded-plastic construction and especially when the plasticcasing parts are locally weakened by decorative relief or intaglioformations. The difficulties are believed to be attributable in part tolack of circumferentially complete internal support of the casingplastic, in part to the rough nature of detent action, and in part todetent peening of keying surfaces.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device of thecharacter indicated.

Another object is to provide a cartridge-type refill-containerconstruction featuring improved locking engagement between the partswhen the cartridge is received in the housing.

A further object is to meet the above objects with a device in whichadequately positive locking action is assured as long as the parts areassembled, and yet they may be unlocked by simple manipulation.

A still further object is to meet the above objects with a basic insertconstruction for an outer decorative casing so as to render thecartridge and insert structure universally applicable to a plurality ofouter casing configurations, and so as also to inherently receive andsecure a plurality of types of refill-cartridge construction.

A specific object is to meet the foregoing objects with a constructionwhich inherently supports the plastic casing without noticeable localdeformation, and which is not only smooth in its detent action uponcartridge insertion and removal but is also incapable of damaging thekeying relation of rotated parts, regardless of the number of cycles ofinsertion and removal of the cartridge base in the casing base.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention willbe pointed out or will be apparent to those skilled in the art from areading of the following specification in conjection with theaccompanying drawings.

In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, apreferred form of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of an assembly according to the inventionwith a cartridge refill received in the base-housing member of the outerdecorative housing, the closure cap being suggested in phantom outline;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refill cartridge used in the containerof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation, with base-housing parts shownin section, to reveal coaction of the parts in assembled relation;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cartridge of FIG. 2 on a further enlargedscale, to identify a dimension; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view, on the enlarged scale of FIG. 4,to permit identification of dimensional relationships in casing parts ofFIG. 3.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates an improved refill cartridgeand insert-sleeve construction for use in lipstick or the likecontainers having outer decorative casings, the sleeve being permanentlyassembled into the bore of the base part of the outer decorative casing.The particular feature of the invention resides in provision of suchcircumferential uniformity of the sleeve fit in the outer decorativecasing that inherently weak plastic outer casings are smoothlycylindrically supported and permanently engaged, without imposing suchcircumferential stress as to rupture the casing. At the same time,improved detent and locking structure coacts between removably fittedparts of the cartridge and casing to assure smooth detent action withoutdamage to keyed parts or surfaces.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the invention is shown inapplication to a cartridge-refill container designated generally 10,removably received within the lower or base half of an outer decorativehousing member, designated generally 11. The housing member is shown tobe generally cylindrical and to comprise a lower cylindrical end 12 andan upper cylindrical end or bead 13. The bead l3 constitutes a stop whenthe container is closed by application of a closure cap 14 havinginternal friction ribs 15 to grip the cartridge 10 when cap 14 is drivento abutment with the bead 13. The cap 14 may be cup shaped, of moldedplastic, with external decorative relief or intaglio designs, and with asmooth bore in which the friction means 15 is integrally formed.

The cartridge refill 10 may be of the type employing two relativelyrotatable parts to produce propel-repel action of a lipstick carriertherewithin, and it suffices for present purposes to identify the upperor application end 16, which may be cylindrical, having an openingthrough which the lipstick is selectively projected, and in addition, toidentify a lower or base operating end 18 received and concealed withinthe base housing member 12.

When the closure cap 14 is removed and with the parts then as shown insolid outline in FIG. 1, the lipstick within the cartridge 10 isprojected and retracted in accordance with relative rotation of theexposed cartridge part 16 and the basehousing member 11. This is done bymeans of a keyed engagement between the base end 18 of the cartridge andsuitable formations within the bore of the base-housing member 11. Theseformations characterize the profile of the inner edge of a radiallyinwardly directed flange 19 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) carried by and formingpart of the base-housing member 11. In the form shown, the keyedengagement involves a circumferentially spaced plurality of elongatednoncircular formations or flats 18' on the cartridge base 18, and acorresponding plurality of straight edges or short flats 19 (see FIG. 2)on the radially inward flange 19.

In accordance with the invention, an inserted refill cartridge isretained within the base-housing member 11 by detent action until it isdesired to remove and replace the cartridge. This is achieved by relyingprimarily upon local resilient deformation of an insert sleeve 20 at anaxial location spaced from the keyed engagement at l8'-19'. In the formshown, the insert sleeve 20 is press fitted and snapped into permanentassembly with the outer decorative plastic cup 12, to complete thebase-housing member 11.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the insert sleeve 20 is a thin metal shellformed with the bead 13 at its upper end and with the flange 19 at itslower end. A cylindrical body between these ends is continuous exceptfor a circumferentially continuous bead formation 21. The convex matureof bead 21 on the outside is matched by a correspondingcircumferentially continuous concavity or groove 22 in the bore ofsleeve 20. The convex bead 21 serves permanently to hold sleeve 20 inassembled relation to cup 12, while the concavity or groove 22 providesinsertably removable detent-retaining action with detent means on thecartridge. As already indicated, the axial locale of detent action isspaced from the keyed engagement l8-l9 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,angularly spaced plural radially outward bumps 23 are formed on acircumferentially continuous cylindrical or bead portion 24 of the base18. Conveniently, the bumps 23 may be formed in bead 24 as one of theautomatic steps of fabricating the inner tubular propulsion member ofthe cartridge 10, the base 18 (including bead 24 and flats 18) beingmerely the externally exposed lower end of such member, all of which ispreferably made on a so-called eyelet machine.

The cooperating functions of the described parts will be betterunderstood from a description of preferred dimensional relationships,starting with press-fit assembly of the sleeve 20 to the cup 12, which,to match or estl'letically complement the decorative scheme of cap 14,is shown to be of molded-plastic construction. The bore of cup 12 ispreferably formed with circumferentially continuous smooth surfaces,involving an end counterbore 25, a land 26, a groove 27, and a furtherland extension 28; the inner end 29 of the cup 12 is thickened for addedstrength.

For press-fit assembly of sleeve 20 to cup 12, the bead 21 is ofdiameter D to clear the diameter D, of the end counterbore 25 but tointerfere with the reduced diameter D of the land 26. The sectionalcurvature of the groove 27 substantially matches the sectional curvatureof the bead 21, but preferably the outer diameter of cylindrical sleevesurfaces axially adjacent bead 21 (and including bead 21) are such as tohave slight residual interference (in the order of l to mils) with thecorresponding bore surfaces 262728 after bead 21 registers with andsnaps into groove 27. Then thus assembled, the end bead 13 defines theupper end of base housing member 11, with the upper end of cup 12 snuglyadjacent thereto, and the engaged sleeve and cup surfaces providecircumferentially uniform reinforcement to the plastic cup.

For smooth snap-acting detent assembly of the cartridge to the basemember 11, the inside-rim diameter D at the mouth of the sleeve 20exceeds the diameter D of the included circle 23' of detents 23, and thekeying prismatic flats 18 are within confines appropriate to engage thecutout flange 19, with a section reduced from the diameter D of thecylindrical surface or bead 24. Preferably, the interference between thedetent-circle diameter D and the diameter D, of the detent land 29adjacent groove 22 is such as to develop transient resilient chordlikedeformations in sleeve 20 (at and near the land 29) as this interferingregion is traversed prior to detent-engagement in groove 22, and theextent of such deformations is so slight as (a) not to causeinterference between the bead surface 24 and the land surface 29 (atangular locations between detents 23) and (b) not to impair thestructural integrity of the plastic cup, however embrittled or weakenedfor decorative purposes.

Typically, for a cartridge size in which the base bead 24 is of about0.6 inch, the detents 23 rise radially from the bead diameter D to theextent of about 0.006 to 0.01 1 inch. The detent-circle 23 has anundeformed interference of about 0.008 to 0.014 inch with the sleeveland 29. For the force-fit lock of sleeve 20 to the mouth of cup 12, theparts have the l to 5-mil interference already described for the finalposition, and the interference of bead 21 with land 26 upon assembly maybe in order of 5 to mils.

It will be seen that the invention provides an improved constructionparticularly suited to the employment of delicate decorative outercasing parts. The detent action is smoothly cammed, positive and longlasting, without damage to keyed elements, regardless of the number ofrecycled cartridge insertions and removals. Also, detent-actiondistortions are well within the tolerance capability ofsleeve-reinforced plastic caps, even when the plastic is of thenonuniform section which results from deep intaglio contouring of outersurfaces.

While the invention has been described in detail for a preferred form,it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a lipstick or the like container cartridge having abase end and an applicator end for exposing lipstick or the like to beapplied, a cup-shaped housing member having an opening removablyreceiving the base end of said cartridge; said cup-shaped housing memberincluding an outer decorative cup with a bore having an internalcircumferentially continuous groove, and a metal insert sleeve supportedby the bore of said cup near the open end thereof and including a circumferentrally continuous radially outward bead having initialpress-fitting interference with the bore of said cup upon axialinsertion therein but having lesser press-fitting interference plusaxially locating snap engagement with said bore upon bead registry withsaid groove, the bore of said sleeve having a circumferential groove atthe axial location of said bead, said sleeve including an integralradially inward flange located deeper than said bead but axially shortof the closed end of said housing member; said base end including a keyportion having key engagement with said flange member when receivedtherein, and said base end further including a circumferential bead withradially outward detent means having insertably removable detentinterference with the bore of said sleeve and also having two-way-actingsnap-lock detent action with the groove of said sleeve upon approach toand achievement of full insertion of said base end into said cup-shapedhousing member.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the interference of said sleevebead with the groove of said cup exceeds the interference of saidcartridge-bead detent means with the groove of said sleeve, whereby saidsleeve is retained by said cup during axial insertion and removal ofsaid cartridge base with respect to said sleeve.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said detent means comprises aplurality of angularly spaced smoothly rounded outward bumps, saidsleeve being locally radially deformable between the axial location ofsaid groove and the open end of said sleeve, whereby interference priorto snap-detent engagement with the sleeve groove is relatively light inaction due to local detent-urged radial deformation of said sleeve.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the open end of said sleeveincludes a radially outward bead having a shoulder adjacent the open endof said cup when said sleeve bead is engaged at the groove in the boreof said cup.

5. The combination of claim 3, in which said plurality is three.

6. The combination of claim 1, in which said key portion of saidcartridge is regularly polygonally prismatic and in which the keyformations of said flange member comprise a matching polygonal edge atan opening in said flange member.

7. The combination of claim 1, in which said decorative cup is of moldedplastic.

1. In combination, a lipstick or the like container cartridge having abase end and an applicator end for exposing lipstick or the like to beapplied, a cup-shaped housing member having an opening removablyreceiving the base end of said cartridge; said cup-shaped housing memberincluding an outer decorative cup with a bore having an internalcircumferentially continuous groove, and a metal insert sleeve supportedby the bore of said cup near the open end thereof and including acircumferentially continuous radially outward bead having initialpress-fitting interference with the bore of said cup upon axialinsertion therein but having lesser press-fitting interference plusaxially locating snap engagement with said bore upon bead registry withsaid groove, the bore of said sleeve having a circumferential groove atthe axial location of said bead, said sleeve including an integralradially inward flange located deeper than said bead but axially shortof the closed end of said housing member; said base end including a keyportion having key engagement with said flange member when receivedtherein, and said base end further including a circumferential bead withradially outward detent means having insertably removable detentinterference with the bore of said sleeve and also having two-way-actingsnap-lock detent action with the groove of said sleeve upon approach toand achievement of full insertion of said base end into said cup-shapedhousing member.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the interferenceof said sleeve bead with the groove of said cup exceeds the interferenceof said cartridge-bead detent means with the groove of said sleeve,whereby said sleeve is retained by said cup during axial insertion andremoval of said cartridge base with respect to said sleeve.
 3. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said detent means comprises a pluralityof angularly spaced smoothly rounded outward bumps, said sleeve beinglocally radially deformable between the axial location of said grooveand the open end of said sleeve, whereby interference prior tosnap-detent engagement with the sleeve groove is relatively light inaction due to local detent-urged radial deformation of said sleeve. 4.The combination of claim 1, wherein the open end of said sleeve includesa radially outward bead having a shoulder adjacent the open end of saidcup when said sleeve bead is engaged at the groove in the bore of saidcup.
 5. The combination of claim 3, in which said plurality is three. 6.The combination of claim 1, in which said Key portion of said cartridgeis regularly polygonally prismatic and in which the key formations ofsaid flange member comprise a matching polygonal edge at an opening insaid flange member.
 7. The combination of claim 1, in which saiddecorative cup is of molded plastic.